Monthly Policy Updates - Level 1
Participating districts will receive an email notifying them that a new Policy Update is available to be viewed on the Policy Services SharePoint platform. The Policy Update documents will include a newsletter (the Policy Pulse) sharing information related to changes in law and regulation, new guidance documents, or any other material relevant to a district's Policy Manual. When warranted, a new or substantially revised sample policy will be included. These Policy Updates provide general information that is applicable and of interest to all districts, whether they have recently developed a Policy Manual or currently have a Policy Manual or currently have a Policy Manual from another source.
Notices of Policy Updates are communicated by email and documents may be viewed on the Policy Services SharePoint platform by designated staff in the school district. Each district is also assigned a policy coordinator from our office to provide policy support via telephone or email. Districts may request a limited number of sample policies and supporting information on a topic of district interest or concern.
Policy Updates (Level 1) as a stand-alone service, are not recommended as a means to keep recently completed Policy Manuals fully up-to-date with the continual changes in law and regulation. Policy Updates do not include revisions to existing policies that are provided in our Level 2 Service.
Previous Policy Updates have included:
- Privacy and Security for Student Data and Teacher and Principal Data (Feb. 2020)
- Extraordinary Circumstances; Remote Working; and Remote Learning (Aug. 2020)
- Title IX and Sex Discrimination (Oct. 2020)
- Records Management (Nov. 2020)
- Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment on the District (Jan. 2021)
- Gender Neutral Single-Occupancy Bathrooms (Feb. 2021)
- Sexual Harassment of Students (Mar. 2021)
- Smoking, Tobacco, and Cannabis (Marijuana) Use (May 2021)
The district will provide Erie 1 BOCES Policy Services staff with current contact information (the full names and titles, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) of up to three designated district officials who should receive notice of the monthly Policy Updates. The district must contact Policy Services immediately if this information changes to ensure uninterrupted receipt of the Monthly Policy Updates.
The Policy Update will address issues based on new law or regulation or exploration of a new "hot" topic related to education. Policy Services will email districts when a new Policy Update is availble to be viewed on the Policy Services SharePoint platform. Each district will also be assigned a specific policy coordinator who will be available to answer district questions or supply a limited number of sample policies as requested. Guidance is also available on how to process the monthly Policy Updates on the Erie 1 BOCES website or upon request.
Current and past Policy Updates are available on the SharePoint platform.